EPISTEMETHICS: A VIABLE AND INDISPENSABLE PHILOSOPHY FOR THE REALISATION OF AN EGALITARIAN NIGERIA

Abstract

Since after Nigeria’s independence, the yearning of the majority of her citizens to have an egalitarian society where the right of every citizen is respected simply because he or she is a human being has remained elusive. This problem, among other problems Nigerians are grappling with, has been identified by various scholars to have been grounded in lack of good leadership and good governance encapsulated in bribery and corruption, parochialism, tribalism and un-patriotism. This study, which employs critical analysis, contextual, historical, and textual methods of inquiry, holds that the above problems are orchestrated by lack of a specific philosophy Nigerians would boldly call their own; which guides the activities of all the citizens, both the leaders and the led. Through education, knowledge is acquired. Acquisition of knowledge has been identified as a major tool for the development of any nation across the globe. However, this study strongly holds that acquisition of knowledge has to be accompanied by good moral values that must be practically demonstrated in the manner people live their lives both in public and private places. It is this kind of education where acquisition of knowledge and practice of good moral conduct work in synergy that such an education will be useful to the society. The kind of knowledge that is embedded in good moral behaviour is described in this research as epistemethics. It is a strong principle of epistemethics that any knowledge that is not geared towards advancing the course of humanity is not qualified to be called knowledge.